School Based Health Center Available to All Douglas County Students

September 6, 2019

The Doctor Is in: School Based Health Center Serves All Douglas County Students

Since 2016, the Family Health Center at Douglas County Schools has been delivering quality medical and behavioral healthcare for the students living in our communities. Douglas County School System students and staff from any school are eligible to take advantage of these services, which include a wide range of health care. With four exam rooms, a reception area and wheelchair accessibility, the clinic plays a central role in the community.

The health center provides primary healthcare services, such as immunizations, school physicals, behavioral health, sports physicals, sick visits, and well-child checks. Asthma management, chronic disease management, health education, and youth weight management programs are also available. Other community services include translation and interpretation services and ACA and PeachCare for Kids/Medicaid application help.

Communities In Schools of Douglas County Executive Director Mitzi Teal says the Family Health Center fills an important need in the community. “Our school-based health center is an amazing resource to our families and staff. The center provides another important layer of support. It is an extra resource for all of our families and school staff. I have visited the clinic when my children have been sick and have been highly satisfied with the level of care I received.”

Superintendent Trent North says these factors all enhance the health and wellbeing not just of students, but of the entire community. “This health center is one of only eleven full-service school-based health centers in Georgia. Having this center in our community is a huge asset for parents,” he adds.

“Access to quality, convenient student health care is important for so many reasons. It helps to decrease absenteeism, tardiness, and time out of class for visits to the doctor. Our Family Health Center’s impact is improving not just student health. They are also supporting our students by improving attendance, grades, and test scores,” North says.

All students and staff in the Douglas County School System and the siblings of current students are eligible to receive these services. Medicaid, PeachCare for Kids and most major insurance plans are accepted. Students without insurance may be eligible to take part in the Family Health Center’s sliding fee scale program.

The center is located at 8277 Connally Drive in Douglasville in the Burnett Elementary building. Guests may use the separate entrance for the Health Center which is located on the lower side of the school. Hours are 7:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m. during school days, with same-day appointments available.

For more information, or to book an appointment, call 770.651.2273.

"A Million Dreams" at Dorsett Shoals Elementary

"A Million Dreams" is the theme at Dorsett Shoals Elementary this year. Principal Shelly Hester reached out to PTA members, teachers, and families this summer to collect video clips of children expressing what they want to be when they grow up. Bulletin boards and pictures of students sharing their dreams catch your eye as you walk the halls of Dorsett Shoals.

"Our parents have dreams for their children and our students have dreams for themselves," said Ms. Hester. "At Dorsett Shoals, we are committed to providing our students with the tools and foundation they need to accomplish their dreams."

Enjoy the video featuring DSES students!

Construction Is Full Steam Ahead at CHMS and AHS

New Classrooms and Office Space for Chapel Hill Middle

An end to open classrooms in pods at Chapel Hill Middle and the elimination of trailers at Alexander High! These are just two improvements that will be provided by current construction projects in Douglas County. Both projects are funded by Esplost V.

Capital Improvements Coordinator Kirk Nicholson presented an update on the projects to the Board of Education on September 3. "The 8th Grade Academy building and the office space at Chapel Hill Middle School are progressing nicely. The Academy building is already dried in. The new classroom building at Alexander High School is also moving right along. Both buildings should be finished in June, 2020, in time for the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year."

The office addition on the front of Chapel Hill Middle School will feature one main entrance for the school and a lobby space and conference room to host parent meetings. "The new office addition will offer a higher degree of safety for our students and staff," said Principal Dr. Jolene Morris. "Instead of five main points of entry into the building, we will now have one main locked entrance. Office staff will observe outside cameras and buzz visitors into the building. The lobby area will also be secure, and visitors will have to be buzzed into the main classroom area of the school."

The extra space provided by the new 8th Grade Academy building will allow the three open pods in the main building to be renovated into fewer but larger classrooms next summer. All classrooms will feature a door and more space, providing a 21st Century classroom for all students. "Our students will benefit from the renovated classrooms," said Dr. Morris. "Group work and projects will be easier to conduct since teachers won't have to be as concerned with the noise level as they are now with the open classrooms."

Chapel Hill is the largest middle school in the county with 1,230 students. The building opened in 1972 and was last renovated in 1997.

Addition at Alexander Will Eliminate Trailers

Alexander High School Principal Chris Small looks forward to having all of his students and teachers in a secure building next year. "Our students will be safer in the new building. The threat of dangerous weather and the possibility of intruders will be greatly diminished in a secure brick-and-mortar building."

The new addition at Alexander High School will feature 26 classrooms and labs and will eliminate the 22 classrooms that are now housed in mobile units on campus. "Right now, the teachers in the mobile units feel somewhat isolated from the school," said Mr. Small. "With classrooms in the new addition, teachers will benefit from being near their colleagues and professional learning communities."

A main goal of Esplost V was to eliminate as many mobile classrooms as possible. Seventeen trailers (19%) have been removed in the last two years. At this point, 77 trailers remain, with 53 used as classrooms and 24 as storage. Eight trailers are scheduled for demolition this year. When the construction at Alexander is complete, additional trailers that are used as classrooms will also be eliminated.

Purposity: An Easy Way to Make a Difference

Would you help if a student in your child's class needed shoes or a family lost their home in a fire?

School counselors often know of needs, and now there's an easy way to find out what those needs might be. If you sign up for "Purposity," you will receive one text a week with a brief description of the need of one of the students in our county. You can decide if you'll help right from your phone. It's easy to make a difference!

If you choose to help, the item you provide will be shipped to the counselor at the school within a few days. You can rest assured that all requests have been initiated by those at the school level who know legitimate needs.

To register to receive text messages, download the Purposity app from the app store on your phone. Please watch the video for more information!

More Friday Night Lights!

Spotlight on Lithia Springs High School

The Lithia Springs Lions will travel to Gwinnett County tonight to take on Berkmar High School!

This year, scores will be posted on the DCSS app. To download the free app, search in your app store for "Douglas County Schools" and look for the familiar yellow swoosh with the five blue stars.

Watch the video from the football media day on July 30 to see Head Coach Corey Jarvis' preview of Lithia's season.

For a schedule for the entire season for all five high schools, please click here.

Head Coach Corey Jarvis is depending on these LSHS team leaders for a successful season! Pictured left to right are Simi Adefope, Ashtanyrein Duncan, Jesse Bevins, Kevin Mfortow, and Caleb Brown.